In 2026, more than 2.5 million euros will be made available for publicly accessible events in Amsterdam and Weesp. The city council has granted contributions to 31 events that applied for subsidies.
A total of €1,976,787.58 has been directly distributed from the Events Fund. The remaining amount goes to the Flexible Desk, where organizers can apply for subsidies throughout the year.
Famous crowd pullers and smaller initiatives
Recipients include well-known crowd pullers such as the Sinterklaas Parade, the Kwaku Summer Festival, and the Amsterdam Light Festival. Smaller initiatives also receive support, such as the Living Room Festival, Landjuweel, and the Bijlmerbios Open Air Cinema.
Pride Amsterdam
Since 2025, Pride Amsterdam is no longer part of the Events Fund. Pride is supported through a different scheme and is therefore not included in this overview.
Free access
The subsidy is intended for activities in public spaces that are free or largely free to access. Organizers may use the money for safety, limiting nuisance, organization, communication, mobility, and sustainability.
Events bring people together
Alderman Touria Meliani: “Events bring people together. At the same time, the sector faces staff shortages and rising costs. With this subsidy, we support organizers. These are moments of meeting and celebration, and sometimes reflection, such as at the May 5 concert.”
Most money to Sinterklaas Parade
In the category above €35,000, a total of €1,816,871.62 was distributed. The largest subsidy goes to the Sinterklaas Parade, with €285,000. Then follow the Kwaku Summer Festival with €150,000 and the Amsterdam Light Festival with €140,000.
The Sluis and Bridges Festival Weesp receives €130,000. The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) gets €115,000. For SAIL Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Roots Festival, each €100,000 is reserved.
Support for neighborhood initiatives
Besides the large crowd pullers, there is money for smaller initiatives, with amounts up to €35,000. The Living Room Festival and Landjuweel each receive €30,000. The Thick Tires Race Tour Amsterdam gets €20,925.
Activities such as Heel Amsterdam Eet, the KinderBeestFeest, the Liberation Dance Festival, and the Bijlmerbios Open Air Cinema also receive contributions. At NoordOogst, Dia de los Muertos, Buitenmarkt XL, and the Harvest Festival are supported with amounts around €4,500.
In this category, a total of €159,915.96 was granted.
Flexible Desk
The amount not directly allocated to the 31 mentioned initiatives goes to the Flexible Desk. Through this scheme, organizers can apply for subsidies throughout the year.
In 2025, 30 mainly small-scale neighborhood activities made use of this possibility. They took place in all districts and in Weesp. In Nieuw-West, Zuidoost, and Noord, this scheme was relatively often used.
Below you will find the complete overview of all granted subsidies.
Category I: more than €35,000
- Sinterklaas Parade – €285,000
- Kwaku Summer Festival – €150,000
- Amsterdam Light Festival – €140,000
- Sluis and Bridges Festival Weesp – €130,000
- Amsterdam Dance Event – €115,000
- SAIL – €100,000
- Amsterdam Roots Festival – €100,000
- The Spirit of Amsterdam – €88,250
- Vondelpark Open Air Theater – €75,000
- (Childrens) Prinsengracht Concert – €72,498.23
- Circusbende Festival – €72,450
- May 5 Concert – €67,500
- Keti Koti Zuidoost Beseft – €60,000
- Bredeweg Festival – €59,592
- Homelanding – €53,625
- Liberation Festival Het Vrije Westen – €50,000
- April Festivals – €42,652.89
- ADE Hangover – €42,508
- Everything is North Festival – €38,425.50
- South East Parade – €37,870
- Indische Buurt Festival – €36,500
Total category I: €1,816,871.62
Category II: less than €35,000
- Living Room Festival – €30,000
- Landjuweel – €30,000
- Thick Tires Race Tour Amsterdam – €20,925
- Heel Amsterdam Eet – €19,333.50
- KinderBeestFeest – €17,500
- Liberation Dance Festival – €17,300
- Bijlmerbios Open Air Cinema – €11,152.50
- Dia de los Muertos at NoordOogst – €4,640
- Buitenmarkt XL at NoordOogst – €4,532.48
- Harvest Festival at NoordOogst – €4,532.48
Total category II: €159,915.96